At the beginning of the century Rome is embroiled in violent social upheaval. But Professor Mori and his wife have a comfortable middle-class existence, seemingly far from the trouble. However, when Vittoria gives birth, they find some problems of their own. The child refuses its mother's breast and Vittoria has no maternal feelings. They hire a nanny, a revolutionary who may have a dark secret, to care for and feed their child while Vittoria withdraws from the family to engage in the revolts of the populace.